The Instagram Algorithm Is About To Change

The chronological feed is making a comeback.

For the first time since the Instagram algorithm was introduced in 2016, Instagram have announced they will be making some changes to our feed options, designed to give us more choice and power over the content that we are shown while we’re using the app. 

This also includes an updated version of the previously loved chronological feed. 

In early January, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, announced they would be rolling out 3 feed options for us all to choose from. The update is expected to happen quicker than some of their previous updates and it’s said we’ll all have access to the new feed options soon. 

So what are they? Here’s what we know so far…

Home Feed: This will be your main, algorithm based feed - similar to what you see right now when you login to Instagram. Mosseri has told us this will begin to change over time and we’ll begin to see more recommendations from accounts we don’t follow. 

Think more inline with the TikTok home feed. 

Following Feed: A chronological feed of only the accounts you follow.

Favourites Feed: A chronological feed of accounts you have categorised at your favourites.

We know a lot of people are really excited to see this update and it will be really interesting to see how it all plays out and which feeds become the go-to’s…

Here’s what we’re predicting: 

• The changes to the algorithm based feed will potentially give you more opportunity to have your content discovered by more people who don’t follow you, it will also provide you with the opportunity to discover new accounts. How this will affect the accounts you do follow being shown in this feed we’re not yet sure…

• The chronological nature of the following feed will make timing even more important. If you follow 200 ‘active’ accounts this could potentially mean scrolling 10, 30, 50 posts down to see content from some of your favourite accounts if they posted hours before you logged in. 

• This could mean that some of your biggest fans / top followers don’t see your content as frequently (unless they add you to favourites), however it might also provide you with a great opportunity to get your content back in front of followers who haven’t been shown your content in a while due to the algorithm. 

• ‘Add us to favourites’ will become one of the hottest CTA’s (call to action). The favourites feed will no doubt be the shortest of all feeds and getting on these will ensure the people who want to see your content will be able to. 

What do you think of the new feed changes? 

There will definitely be more to come on this one - watch this space and we’ll share more information as it becomes available.